Package wrapping mechanism



Dec. 18, 1951 o. SANDBERG PACKAGE WRAPPING MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 28, 1947 INVENTOR.

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Dec. 18, 1951 o. SANDBERG PACKAGE WRAPPING MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 28, 1947 mww k u nu u l w .r J

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Patented Dec. 18, 1951 PACKAGE WRAPPING MECHANISM Oscar Sandberg, Toledo, Ohio, assignor to Lynch Corporation, Anderson, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Application November 28, 1947, Serial Nol 788,351

10 Claims.

This invention relates to a package wrapping mechanism, and particularly to means for folding the Wrapping material around an article, such as a stack of cookies, crackers or the like.

' It is an object of the invention to provide a 1.

novel mechanism for effecting the second fold of the wrapping material around an article to be wrapped, such as cookies, crackers or the like.

it is another object of the invention to provide a second flap folder that is so constructed that it will follow the uneven contour of an articleto be wrapped, such as described.

It is another object of the invention to simplify heat sealing during the wrapping of an article, such as described.

accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a portion of a wrapping machine constructed in accordance with my invention;

Figure 2 is also a side elevational view of a wrapping machine constructed in accordance with my invention, with the folder head and the attendant parts shown in the raised position, and

with the second flap folder shown in full lines inits normal position, and in dotted lines in its Figure 3 is a sectional view of the wrapping machine taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional view of the wrapping machine taken on line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is an enlarged side elevational view of the second flap folder;

Figure 6 is a plan view of the first and second flap folders;

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic view showing the second flap folder in the position just prior to the time it starts moving;

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic view of a portion of the second flap folder after it has moved partway through its cycle;

Figure 9 is a partial view of the second flap folder shown in the position it assumes when thesecond nap is completely folded;

Figure is a partial view of the second flap folder at the end of a cycle;

Figure 11 is a partial vertical sectional view through the second flap folder; and V Figure 12 is an enlarged partial view of the cam track for operating the second flap folder. Referring specifically to the drawings for a detailed description of the invention, numeral 10 designates generally the supporting frame for the wrapping machine. At the top of the frame a table I3 is disposed. The particular machine being described is similar to the one shownv inmy copending applications Serial No. 654,079, filed March 13; 1946, which has matured into Patent No. 2,567,405, dated September 11, 1951, and Serial No. 712,-970, filed November 29, 1946. Where practical, I have used the same reference numeralsas in the copending applications.

A pocket conveyor shaft I4 is suitably journalled in bearings and carries a sprocket IT. A pocket conveyor chain surrounds the sprocket H and other sprockets (not shown). The conveyor chain 20 has spaced channel shaped arconveyor 20-25 is driven by any suitable intermittently operating means, as shown in the aforesaid copending applications. The bottomof the pockets is provided with an opening 39, which is positioned directly above the ram head at the ram station, so that the ram head 40 may pass upwardly through the pocket 25.

Above the ram head 40 is disposed a rotary folder head FH. The folder head consists of a pair of stub shafts on which a casting is mounted. The casting includes two end plates 55 and 51 with a square connecting postifi between them. At thecenter of the post 58, two cross passageways 59 are provided at right angles to each other, which result in the post 58 having four connecting portions 54. i

Each end plate 56 and 51 has four rodsiil) journalled therein, and it will be noted that the folder head PE is arranged with four receiving pockets, each formed by a flat plate 66 and arcuate plates 51 and 68. The plates 61 are fixed relative to the folder head and have eyes 69 loosely journalling the rod 60, so that the rods may rotate thereml The plates ,66 are seouredto the post of a revolution by means of gears I and I6 which are driven from any suitable intermittently operated mechanism, such as that shown, for example, in the aforementioned copending applications. Since the folder head forms no part of the present invention, further description thereof is unnecessary.

4 ure 6 and consists of a paper pusher plate I05 carried by a slide bar I01 and binge thereof on a pivot I08. Such an arrangement permits upward floating movement of the paper pusher plate I06 and limits its downward movement to gravity.

The slide bar I0! is slidably mounted in trackways I09 and is reciprocated therein by means of a lever I I0. The lever H0 is pivoted intermediate its ends at I I2 and has one of its ends connected to the slide bar I01 by a link H3. The other end of the arm I I0 is connected by a link I I4 to suitable mechanism for reciprocating the folder plate I06 in properly timed relation to the remainder of the machine in order to provide the first flap A wrapper for wrapping the packages is shown at 91 and is preferably supplied to the wrapping machine in roll form, the wrapping machine being provided with means to cut strips from the roll into individual wrappers, as shown, for example, in my Patent No. 2,283,096, of May 12, 1942.

The wrapper 91 is fed onto the table in fiat form over an opening I4a in the table and beneath a pair of wrapper control rods 98 and 99. The rods are supported by a pair of supports I00 and one of the rods is capable of slight floating movement, since its ends are mounted in slots I02 in the supports I00, and springs I05 pull the rod 99-toward the rod 98. The rods thereby effect a close wrapping of the wrapper 91 around the stack of articles.

A lever I5'I-I58 is pivoted at I59 on a bracket I04. The lever I51 has a slot I56 therein in which a rollerv I54 is adapted to move. The rolleris mounted on a slide I55 and a means for reciprocating the slide comprises a pivot I46 on which the roller I54 is mounted and on which a fitting I44 is pivoted. Connected with the fittingll44 is a link I45, which is connected to suitable mechanism for reciprocating the link I45 in properly timed relation to the remainder of the mechanism. Such a means is disclosed and fully described in my copending application Serial No.

712,970. Oscillation of the link I45 is transformed into reciprocation of the slide I55 with the roller I54 reciprocating in a horizontal direction. The roller is shown in an intermediate position in Figure 1, and it will be obvious that any movement to the left will slightly raise the arm I51, whereas movement to the right will lower the arm. The curvature of the slot I56 is such that considerable movement of the slide I55 and the roller I54 results in much less oscillation of the bell crank lever I5I-I58 about its pivot I59 than the oscillation of the link I45. The purpose of this is so that a second slide I43, which is slidable on the horizontal guide bar 81, and is connected with the arm I58 by a link I86, and carries package end folder plates I66, will have less movement than the slide I55, which carries the package ejector rod III, The rod III is preferably slit into two bars which terminate in pusher plates The ram 40 is also reciprocated vertically by anysuitable mechanism (not shown) in timed relation to the remainder of the machine, so that the ram will elevate a package from the pocket conveyor 25 into a pocket of the folder head at the proper time and then return to its lower position.

Referring now to Figure 6, I have illustrated the first and second bottom flap folders. The first bottom-flap folder is shown at the right in Figat the bottom of the article, as best shown in Figure 8. Such a mechanism is fully disclosed and described in the aforementioned application Serial No. 654,07 9.

In accordance with the present invention, a second bottom flap folder, best shown in Figures 5 and 6, is provided for folding the second flap over the first flap at the bottom of the articles and for heat'sealing the same. One of the difliculties in former machines was the fact that, due to irregularities in the articles to be wrapped, the heat sealing plates did not contact the wrapping material throughout the flap and the material would not be sealed at some points.

The second bottom flap folder mechanism consists of a plate 200 which is bent to U-shape at its outer end, which plate is reciprocated by means of a lever 20I which slides in a channel shaped bearing 202 having retaining members 2I0 secured thereto. The lever 20I has a pivoted shaft I98 secured thereto and an arm 204 is pivoted on the shaft I98 by a collar I99. The arm 204 is provided with a projection 205 which cooperates with a stop 206 to maintain the arm 204 in proper horizontal position by means of gravity. The plate 200 is secured to the underside of the arm 204. A terminal block 201 is also secured to the plate 200. Suitable wires 209, which have considerable slack therein, are connected to 'a terminal plate 2II on the end of the lever 20I. A contact assembly 2I2, having a carbon contact 2 I3, is mounted by means of a bracket 2I4 on the upper frame 88 and is adapted to slide with respect to the terminal plate 2I I. As shown in Figure 2, when the frame 88 is pivoted about its pivot 89 on bracket 90, the contact 2I3 is also raised away from the plate 2 and no current then flows through the wires 209. However, when the machine is in its normal position, such as shown in Figure 1, the contact 2I3 is in engagement with the terminal plate 2II and current flows through the wires 209 to terminal block 201 and thence to an electric heater .208, which is embedded in the plate 200 at its outer end.

A hairpin shaped rod, generally shown at 2I6, having a lower rod 22I and an upper rod 222, is journalled by the lower rod 22I in bearings 2I1 and 2 I8 provided on the top of plate 200. A plurality of fingers 223, having projections 220 on the top thereof, are loosely journalled on the rod 22 I. The rod 222 is normally in engagement with the underside of the projections 220. Each of the fingers is provided with a tension spring 224 connected between the projections 220 and the plate 200, which springs tend to lift the fingers to the full line position shown in Figure 8 and permit them to float freely on the rod '22I. The hairpin shaped rod 2I6 is, however, connected to an arm 2I9, which arm is normally forced upwardly by a compression spring 225 disposed between as shown, for example, in Figures 7 and 10 The compression spring 225 is, obviously, stronger than the combined tension springs 224. A lifting arm 226 is provided at the forward end of the arm 204, for apurpose hereinafter described.

In order to reciprocate the second bottom fold plate 200 and its attendant parts, including the fingers 223, and to manipulate the fingers 223, a linkage mechanism is provided. The lever is connected by a fitting 201 to a link 208, which is in turn connected to a pivot fitting 229, which engages an arm 23l of a bell crank lever by means of a slot 232 therein. The bell crank lever 23I ispivoted at 233 on a bracket 234 and a portion 235 of the bell crank lever is secured to a roller 236, which is adapted to roll in a cam track 238 of a cam track member 231. The cam track member 23! is rotated continuously by a shaft 34, which is driven from any suitable mechanism.

'The cam track 238 is so disposed that the second bottom folder plate 209 and the fingers 223 will be reciprocated in properly timed relation to the remainder of the machine. Obviously, rotation of the cam track member 23'! in a clockwise direction will reciprocate the entire second bottom flap folder means through the linkage just described.

Also secured to the shaft 34 is a crank arm 239, which is connected to link 24I, which link is pivoted at 242. Link 24!. is connected to a pin or projection 245 by means of a link 243 secured to a shaft 244, which is oscillated by links 24!, 243. The pin or projection 245 obviously will be oscillated by the rotation of a shaft 34 through the linkage just described. The pin or projection 245 is so positioned that when the fingers 223 are about to engage the article to be wrapped, the pin 245 will force the arm 2l9 downwardly against the spring 225, as shown, for example, in Figure 9, and permit the fingers 223 to lift from the heater 298 and individually-engage the package 26 within the wrapper 91 at various heights from the plate 200, as shown, for example, in Figure 11. The fingers 223 have been heated by their contact with the heater 298 prior to the time the lever 2I9 is depressed and, therefore, effect sealing of the wrapping material 97, which is, for example, cellophane or the like. Obviously, when the lever 219 is depressed, the rod 222 is moved downwardly away from the projections 220 on the fingers 223, and the springs 224 lift the fingers to the position shown, for example, in Figures 8 and 11. Springs 224 are very light springs so that pressure of the fingers 223 against the package 26 and the wrapper 91 is very slight. The pressure is suflicient, however, that the fingers 223 will follow the uneven contours of the articles 26 andpress the wrapper 9! against the first flap at all positions along the articles 26, as best shown in Figure 11.

At the middle of the cycle of movement of the plate 209 and its attendant parts, the plate 200 6 Operation As will be obvious from the foregoing description, the ram 40 lifts the articles 26 to be wrapped through the opening Na in the table l3, past the retaining rods 98 and 99 and into a pocket of the folder head PB. The first bottom flap folder N16 is then moved to the position shown in Figure 8 to provide the first bottom flap fold and the second bottom flap fold is then moved in the opposite direction to the position shown in Figure 9 to provide the second bottom flap fold. After the second bottom flap fold is withdrawn, the folder head PE is rotatedclockwise, as shown in Figure 10, and continues to rotate until another pocket is in position to receive the articles 26. Prior to the time the folder head FH is rotated, the ejector I12 has passed. through the folder head horizontally to eject a partially wrapped package into end folder means shown at I66. Obviously, when the package is fully wrapped, it is ejected from the machine by any suitable means (not shown).

In order to clean parts of the machine and to remove any wrappers which may become jammed, the entire upper assembly, which is supported mainly on frame member 88, may be rotated about its pivot point 89 to the position shown in Figure 2. Since the folder head FH is mounted on the frame 88, it is raised therewith and may be cleaned or jammed articles or wrappers removed therefrom. Also, as stated hereinbefore, the contact member 2l2, 2I3 is raised from the contact plate 2 so that the heater 298 is deenergized. The entire second bottom flap folder plate 269 and attendant parts may then be rotated about the,pivot I98 to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 2, so that this portion of the machine may be cleaned or so that broken articles or jammed wrappers may be removed therefrom. The lead wires .or pigtails 209 are sufilciently long to permit raising of the second bottom flap folder mechanism to the position shown in Figure 2. Obviously, the guide and supporting members 202, 295 and the operating lever 20], with its attendant parts, are not raised with the plate 200 and its attendant parts. The same is also true of the contact plate 2.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have provided an improved wrapping machine, particularly adapted to wrap frangible, articles, such ascookies, crackers, peanut butter-sandwiches and the like, which wrapping machine is provided with positive means for assuring complete sealing of the second bottom flapof the wrapper for such articles. I have also provided for ease andsimplicity of cleaning or removing jammed wrappers from the machine.

Some changes maybe made in the construction and arrangementof the parts of my device without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my. intention to cover by my claims any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope without sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

I claim as my invention: 7

1. A wrapping machine for wrapping articles of uneven contour comprising a movable conveyor for carrying the articles to be wrapped, a table above the conveyor for receiving a sheet of wrapping material which is adapted to be heat sealed. an opening in the table through which said articles are elevated, a folder head above said table, means for supporting said folder head, means for elevating said article from said conveyor into said folder head, said wrapping material being then draped over said article with flaps depending downwardly from two sides thereof, means forfolding on flap into engagement with'the article and means for folding the other flap into engagement with said article and said first flap and heat sealing the flaps together, said last means comprising a member which is movable toward and away from said article, and means for so moving said member, said movable member including a plate, a plurality of movable fingers on said plate, means for biasing the fingers toward the article in the folding head When'the plate is moved toward the same, and means for heating said fingers, said heating means comprising an electric heater, flexible conductors connected to said electric'heater, a contact member movable with said plate and connected to said conductors, and a normally stationary electrical contact adapted to slide over said movable contact to convey electrical energy thereto, said stationary contact being mounted on the means for supporting the folding head, and means for pivotally mounting said support?- ing means so that it may be rotated upwardly to expose the folding head and disengage the stationary contact from the movable contact.

2.-A wrapping machine for wrapping articles of uneven contour comprising a movable'conveyor for carrying the articles to be wrapped, a table above the conveyor for receiving a sheet of wrapping material which is adapted to be heat sealed, an opening in the table through which said articles are elevated, a folder head above said table, means for supporting said folder head, means for elevating'said article from said conveyor into said folder head, said wrapping material being then draped over said article with flaps depending downwardly from two sides thereof, means for folding one flap into engagement with the article and means for folding the other flap into engagement with said article and said first flap and heat sealing the flaps together, said last means comprising a member which is movable toward and away from said article, means for so moving said member, said movable member including a plate, a plurality of movable fingers on said plate, means for biasing the fingers toward the article in the folding head when the plate is moved toward the same, means for heating said fingers, said heating means comprising an electric heater, flexible conductors connected to said electric heater, a contact member movable with said plate and connected to said conductors, a normally stationary electrical contact adapted to slide over said movable contact to convey electrical energy thereto, said stationary contact being mounted on the means for supporting the folding head, means for pivotally mounting said supporting meansso that it may be rotated upwardly to expose the folding head and disengage the stationary contact from the movable contact, and means for pivotally mounting said movable member so it may be rotated upwardly away from said table. a

3. A wrapping machine for wrapping articles of uneven contour comprising a movable conveyor for carrying the articles to be wrapped, a table above the conveyor for receiving a sheet of wrapping material which is adapted to be heat sealed, an opening in the table through which said articles are elevated, a folder head above saidtable, means for supporting said folder head, .73

which is movable toward and away from said article, means for so moving said member, said movable member including a plate, a plurality of movable fingers on said plate, means for biasingthe fingers toward the article in the folding head when the plate is moved toward the same, means for heating said fingers, said heating means comprising an electric heater, flexible con- ,ductors connected to said electric heater, a contact member movable with said plate and connected to said conductors, a normally stationary electrical contact adapted to slide over said movable contact to convey electrical energy thereto, said stationary contact being mounted on the means for supporting the folding head, means for pivotally mounting said supporting means so that it may thereafter be rotated upwardly to expose the folding head and disengage the stationary contact from the movable contact, and means for pivotally mounting said movable member so it may be rotated upwardly away from said table. 4. Wrapping and heat sealing means for the circumferential flaps of a wrapper being wrapped around an article of uneven contour by a wrapping machine having means to move an article and a wrapper partially draped therearound upwardlyinto a pocket of a folder head withopposite flaps of the wrapper depending from opposite sides of the article; comprising a blade for folding one flap into engagement with'the article, a plate for folding the other flap into engagement with the article and over the first flap and for heat sealing the flaps together, said plate being movable into contact with the other fiap for partially folding it over the first flap, means forso moving said plate, a plurality of fingers mounted on said plate for pivotal movement relative thereto and independent of each other, spring means biasing said fingers upwardly against the package during the second flap wrapping cperation, means to move said fingers out of contact with the package after said second fiap has been wrapped, and heating means embedded in said plate for heating said fingers.

'5. Wrapping and heat sealing means for the circumferential flaps of a wrapper being wrapped around an article of uneven contour by a wrapping machine having means to move an article and a wrapper partially draped therearound upwardly into a pocket of a folder head with opposite flaps of the wrapper depending from opposite sides of the article; comprising a blade for folding one fiap into engagement with the article, a plate for folding the other flap into engagement with the article and over the first flap, heating means carried by said blade for heat sealing the flaps together, said plate being movable into contact with the other flap for partially folding it over the first flap, means for so moving said plate, a plurality of fingers mounted on said plate for pivotal movement relative thereto and independent of each other, means for biasing said fingers upwardly individually against the package when said plate is moved toward it, and means for biasing said fingers toward and into engagement with said heating means when the plate is moved away from the article.

6. Wrapping and heat sealing means for the circumferential flaps of a wrapper being wrapped around an article of uneven contour by a wrapping machine having means to move an article and a wrapper partially draped therearound upwardly into a pocket of a folder head with opposite fiaps of the wrapper depending from opposite sides of the article; comprising a blade for folding one flap into engagement with the article, a plate for folding the other flap into engagement with the article and over the first flap, heating means for heat sealing the flaps together, said plate being movable into contact with the other flap for partially folding it over the first flap, means for so moving said plate, a plurality of fingers pivotally mounted on said plate, means for biasing said fingers upwardly against the package when said plate is moved toward it, means for biasing the fingers toward said plate when it is moved away from the package, said heating means comprising an electric heater carried by said plate to be engaged by said fingers when they are moved away from the c package, flexible conductors connected to said electric heater, a contact member movable with said plate and connected to said conductors, and normally stationary electrical contacts adapted to slide over said movable contact member to convey electrical energy thereto.

7. Wrapping means for the circumferential flaps of a wrapper being wrapped around articles of uneven contour by a wrapping machine having means to move an article and a wrapper parmoving said plate, a plurality of fingers pivotally I;

mounted on said plate and pivoting independently relative to each other, spring means biasing said fingers upwardly against the package during the second fiap wrapping operation, and means to move said fingers out of contact with the package after the second fiap has been wrapped.

8. Wrapping and heat sealing means for the circumferential flaps of a wrapper being wrapped around an article of uneven contour by a wrapping machine having means to move an article and a wrapper partially draped therearound upwardly into a pocket of a folder head with opposite fiaps of the wrapper depending from opposite sides of the article; comprising a blade for folding one flap into engagement with the article, a plate for folding the other flap into engagement with the article and over the first flap and having a heater for heat sealing the fiaps together, said plate being movable into contact with the other flap for partially folding it over the first flap, means for so moving said plate, a plurality of fingers pivotally mounted on said plate, means for biasing said fingers toward the article when the plate is moved toward the article and means for biasing the fingers toward and into contact with said heater when the plate is moved away from the articles, said means for biasing said fingers toward the heater comprising a lever normally biased in one direction.

9. Wrapping and heat sealing means for the circumferential flaps of a wrapper being wrapped around an article of uneven contour by a wrapping machine having means to move an article and a wrapper partially draped therearound upwardly into a pocket of a folder head with opposite fiaps of the wrapper depending from opposite sides of the article; comprising a blade for folding one flap into engagement with the article, a heated plate for folding the other flap into engagement with the article and over the first flap and for heat sealing the flaps together, said plate being movable into contact with the other fiap for partially folding it over the first flap, means for so moving said plate, a plurality of fingers pivotally mounted on said plate, means for biasing said fingers toward the article when the plate is moved toward the article, means for biasing the fingers toward said heated plate when the plate is moved away from the article, said means for biasing said fingers toward the plate com prising a lever normally biased in one direction, and means for cyclically overcoming the bias on said lever to aiford biasing of said fingers toward said article.

10. Wrapping and heat sealing means for the circumferential fiaps of a wrapper being wrapped around an article of uneven contour by a wrapping machine having means to move an article and a wrapper partially draped therearound upwardly into a pocket of a folder head with opposite fiaps of the wrapper depending from opposite sides of the article; comprising a blade for folding one flap into engagement with the article, a. heated plate for folding the other fiap into engagement with the article and over the first flap and for heat sealing the flaps together, said plate being movable into contact with the other flap for partially folding it over the first fiap, means for so moving said ,plate, a plurality of fingers pivotally mounted on said plate, means for biasing said fingers toward the article when the plate is moved toward the article, means for biasing the fingers toward said heated plate when the plate is moved away from the articles, said means for biasing said fingers toward said heated plate comprising a lever normally biased in one direction, and means operated by said lever for engaging said fingers.

OSCAR SANDBERG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,052,717 Littlefield Sept. 1, 1936 2,066,414 Milmoe Jan. 5, 1937 2,077,431 Neumair Apr. 20, 1937 2,082,408 Lyon June 1, 1937 2,195,222 Neumair Mar. 26, 1940 2,208,776 Sandberg July 23, 1940 2,283,097 Sandberg May 12, 1942 2,397,190 Malhoit Mar. 26, 1946 2,443,992 Sandberg June 22, 1948 

